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Monday, June 30, 2014

People often cite Toronto as a melting pot of cultures. You could actually say that about most of Canada. We are very unique in that no matter where you go in this fabulous country, you'll encounter people from all nationalities, living together in harmony. The mixing of the diverse cultures has made for some interesting new traditions, which leads me to the title of this post Aliens and Humans.

Much like immigrants from other places, aliens, the galactic kind, have their own methods of doing things and views. In my sci-fi stories, I often like to explore what happens when these culturally diverse people, with their own belief systems and morals, encounter humans. Can they find a way to bridge the gap and find common ground? Maybe even find love...

As part of a special event, #scispanks, I wrote a short story (which I hope to expand into a full length one). See what happens when a human, brought up to believe she has the freedom to make her own choices, encounters an alien male who thinks she should do as she's told. Because this excerpt is very, very, and I mean very, adult in nature with explicit language and situations, I won't post it here. But, I will provide a link so you can read it on my site. Enjoy!

Sunday, June 22, 2014

YAY! Happy Birthday to me! Yes, June 23rd is my birthday and while I won't say exactly how many...what the hell, I'm just over the 50 mark. I am living proof it is never too late to pursue your dreams.

When I was a teen in the late 70's listening to Boston, Styx, and Foreigner, I had dreams of being a published writer. With my teen angst on full bore nuclear alert, I poured out my guts in a journal writing short stories and poems and began so many longer stories that I never finished, I had lost count.

Then came the 80's, I got married, moved away and embarked on a different adventure. The years clicked by and the writing fell by the wayside. Okay, we are talking decades here.

While my entire family are voracious readers, the romance genre never darkened our doors growing up. When I got married to a teacher,*who is also a big reader* romance never darkened my door, either.

How did it all come about? 2007 I was in a second hand book store looking for something to read. I picked up a Mary Balogh. I enjoyed those wonderful BBC costume dramas, why not try a historical romance?
I was hooked.

By 2011, ebooks had taken a firm hold, and I began to wonder, could I write a story and *gasp* sell it? I wish I had a sad rejection story to tell, but my first attempt was accepted in 24 hours (I've had a rejection or two since then)

I may have slowed down a bit, but I still enjoy it!

So to celebrate another year of breathing and writing, I'm having a giveaway! All you have to do is leave me a hearty happy birthday in the comments with your email and at the end of this giveaway, I will pick a winner!

Open until July 7th~

What am I offering? TWO OF MY EBOOKS, Winner's choice (format depending on availability)

Friday, June 20, 2014

Sometimes a writer just has to get away. Some go miles away. Others might head to the mountains or other provinces to find those quiet moments to roll out a masterpiece. For me, it's like a Home Away from Home...in the form of my husband's Grandfather's lakeside cottage home on a shore of Lake Ontario. And it's only about 35 minutes from my own front door. What was once their summer getaway cottage, turned into their first home. After some renovations and winterizing, the moved in, raised a child and Grandpa still resides there...and loves it. It's an amazing homes with an old fireplace, his woodworking room, a large and spacious living room and kitchen...I love the country feel of the wood and have found solitude to write when I need it.Our 84 yr old Grandpa still kayaks all summer. Living on the shoreline, it's just a few steps with his kayak and it's in the water and he's off for the day with his kayak group and it's the perfect dwelling for me to get some words in.In fact, I've written 3 stories while he was out and about...

I love sitting on the shore taking a break or two as well, watching the boats cruise by and soaking in the sun and relaxation. The spacious yard is great for bar-b-q's, family gatherings and chopping down trees. LOL Unfortunately, terrible weather and age has decreased the lifespan of his 2 gorgeous trees on either side of the lake entrance. But it has made for some great family togetherness as we all work to clean up the treelines.

Tree clean up

Cleaning up the trees

Nothing like sitting and just watching pretties pass by

And our Darling Peaches loves to get her runs in while visiting Grandpa!!

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

I admit it. When I first started writing my alien stories, I was afraid of extraterrestrials. It had to do with watching the movie SIGNS and living in a house surrounded by corn fields. But writing about sexy aliens became a form of therapy for me, and I quickly got over that fear.

Here's an excerpt from the sci-fi erotica story.
(I've had to edit it a bit to make it PG-13.) Enjoy!

He rushed to the right. The cries of pleasure continued as he reached the entrance behind which the action took place. The door ajar, he dared a quick glimpse into the room. With a gasp, he stepped back into the hall, but could not take his eyes off the sight in front of him.With her naked body in full view, a woman attended to a man. The scent of her desire wound through his nasal passages and drew him closer. But unlike any beings he had ever seen on the vids of Earth, the guy had blue skin. Not his own deep, almost indigo shade, but lighter, closer to the color of the water he’d landed in. Long blond hair flowed over his shoulders, onto his muscular chest.The man held the woman’s shoulders with his webbed hands—yes, webbed hands

Okay, so that's about as much as I can give you without having to label this post Not Safe For Work. If you would like to read more, CRASH LANDING is ON SALE for $0.99 during June at select retailers.

Crash Landing

by Jessica E. Subject

Sci-Fi MMF Ménage Erotica

As his ship plummets toward Earth, Cael believes his life to be over. His last ditch effort to save himself ends in a fiery crash. When he wakes up, he believes he’s entered the afterlife, but his surroundings indicate otherwise. He made it to Earth. But who saved him, and what do they want with him?

Jessica E. Subject is the author of contemporary and science fiction romance, ranging from sweet to erotica. In her stories, you could meet clones, or a sexy alien or two. You may even be transported to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

When Jessica isn't reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to get out and walk. Fast. But she just may slow down if there is a waterfall nearby.

Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Today I thought I would chat about a trip my dad and I made
to the Barron Canyon, situated in the northern part of Algonquin Park,
Northern Ontario, Canada.

If you like great views, spooky heights and plenty of canoeing, then this is
a must for you. There is even interior camping if you want to really take in
the wilderness.

Barron Canyon Pic by Marc Sylvestre

It was the hot Summer of 1989 and my dad and I went on this two-week
trip to the Algonquin Park interior. It was in the middle of the dog days of
Summer, a July heat wave. It was hot, muggy and oh so sticky uncomfortable. We
decided to do an interior camping stint along the Barron Canyon with our homemade
two-person kayak. That thing was sooooo heavy and made out of wood. We popped
on our knapsacks, piled our lightweight sleeping gear into the kayak, and portaged
from the car downhill to the river.

Overlooking Canyon pic by Brett Zimmerman

From the top of Barron Canyon, the scenery is impressive.
From the bottom, can I say WoW factor! If you ever go, see it from top AND
bottom. The towering cliffs with the river running through it, it’ impressive.
If I remember right, there is only one other portage, around a quaint waterfall/
beaver dam/swamp, but then you are into the river again and you can see the
massive cliffs towering on the sides of you. It makes one feel like an tiny ant,
and you hope there isn’t going to be an earthquake...or a storm.

Barron Canyon Pic by Gordon Rainey

We enjoyed the views, despite the hot weather, and that
night we made camp with our tiny little green two-man pup tent beside a cute
waterfall and we created a fire to cook our food. We heated canned soup and cowboy
beans and toasted marshmallows and I noted to my dad, “the sky looks a
bit…funny.” Did he think it was going to storm? Naaaah, he says. LOL

We stayed out in the nice evening breeze and turned in at
about midnight...at one o’clock this MASSIVE thunderstorm hits...oooh I get the
shivers just thinking about it. Lightning sizzled all around the trees and
thunder cracked and cracked and cracked off the rock walls of the cliffs. And
the rain came down in sheets and buckets...and the rain entered our small back
window and dripped upon us and the wind howled and shook our little tent to the
point I thought it was caught in the jaws of a ferocious beast...and my dad
continued to sleep. Grrrr!

He’s a good sleeper, always has been. But me? Not so much.
At one point I pried open the front flap of the tent just in time to see a
lightning bolt sizzle past. OH MY GOD! I swear if I reached out I could have
touched it. Talk about a heart attack!

It stormed and rained and howled straight through the night
until 7am...I DID NOT SLEEP a wink...my dad...snored all night. Can you believe
it???

So, anyways, the moral of this story is, Yes! Go and see the
Barron Canyon...just make sure the weather is going to be good and you have a
sleeping companion who will keep you company if it storms. *grin*

Monday, June 9, 2014

Ya...you heard me, I said mosquitoes. Honest to goodness, they really should be Ontario's national bird. But then again, I'm only b*tching about them, 'cuz I'm allergic to bug bites. I really do seem to be out of place here in Northern Ontario, but I suppose I'll get bitten alive whether I'm in Toronto or not.

Moving along...

Every year, at the crest of summer, my handy husband gets a bright idea. "Lets fix blah, blah, blah." And I'm like, "okay, who in the hell is going to help you?" He then smiles, and taps his foot. It's that pivotal moment I realize I'm screwed. This year, his project was a fence. I have no freaking bloody idea how to erect one, much less the semantics of making sure it's leveled, close to fricken line, or have the strength to toss one of those posts like a caber into the cardboard cylinder. I'm just so glad we installed the last post an hour ago. He can so do the rest, because I'm behind in edits, and that. is. all!

If that wasn't already a mouth full, two days after we started the fence our gazebo collapsed. I know, right? As if there wasn't enough of an expense with the fence, the dang thing gave out. I'm just glad no one was underneath it when it happened.

Well, enough of depressing news. How about I share my latest covers with you.

My Pleasure Garden Follies books will be placed in print edition in the form of a new title Scandalous Affairs. I'll announce the release date as soon as I have it.

And now for a new book in a new series. Lord of Retribution (For Love & Honor, Book 1) Watch for this book in 2015.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Sure some might think it isn't as exciting at the one in the U.S., but it's pretty awesome, and I stop there whenever I can.In Colborne, Ontario (off the 401) the Big Apple is visible from the road. Here it is on my last road trip last week...

The Big Apple features a petting zoo, bakery, restaurant, country store and has probably the BEST apple pie I have ever tasted. And that says a lot from me because apple pie is NOT my favorite dessert. The place is fun, especially if you have younger kids and it isn't too warm for the animals to be out and about.

Monday, June 2, 2014

I don't know about you, but in high school, we had a set number of courses we had to take each year, and in the empty spaces in our timetables, we could fill them with electives. So, back in grade 11, I signed up for a Science Fiction English class. Why? Because my boyfriend at the time signed up for the class, too. Sure, I had an interest in sci-fi, but I'm not sure I would have signed up for the class had he not registered, too. Shortly after that, we broke up, but I still took the class. And one of the assignments inspired the first book in The Underground series, Never Gonna Let You Go.

Here's an excerpt from the story:

If only I could touch his sexy body again.

Standing at the edge of the camp, Calla Jacobs couldn’t stop staring at the toned and tanned body of Erik Edwards, aerospace mechanic for mission SFAE-3, while he worked to repair the core drill. She tried to tear her gaze away, willed her feet to move so she could get to the plains of Airondelle, but it just didn’t happen. She watched as sweat trickled down the center of his back, and she closed her eyes, breathing in his pure, masculine scent. The memory from years ago, of running her hands across the wide expanse of his upper body and through his thick, blond curls, only made things worse. She didn’t love him anymore—at least not in the way she had when they’d dated. And still, Erik would always hold a place in her heart. They’d grown up together, been best friends, even after they’d broken up, until he’d married Holloway.

Erik snapped open a bottle of water, took a large swig, and then poured the rest over his head with a heavy sigh. She could almost hear the water sizzle.

Oh, to be one of those water droplets cascading down his bare chest. She’d enjoy the water so much more if she could stand close enough to lick it off of his body before it dripped to the ground. Grimacing, she clenched her fists. Jeez, pull it together.

Their mission on the barren planet did not include sexual affairs. In fact, except for already established marriages, sex was forbidden outright; the mission could not be compromised by all of the emotions and distractions a sexual bond brought. She and Erik had ended their three-year relationship for that reason— they’d both dreamed of being a part of the mission responsible for confirming the existence of a planet capable of sustaining life. And neither of them had felt ready to get married. They’d promised to wait for each other until they’d served their time and had remained friends throughout their training. Two months before their departure date, Erik had eloped with the mission commander, Melina Holloway, a woman Calla could never compete with in terms of brains and beauty. A quick divorce had followed, but the short-lived marriage had left Erik with a chip on his shoulder. And he’d refused to talk to Calla about anything other than the mission, if at all.

And all month long, all three stories in the series are only $0.99 at select retailers!